Saturday, January 14, 2012

We seem to be building towards another confrontation. Our politicians and news commentators seem angry towards Iran and seem to be looking for excuses to call them out. Just when we finally got out of Iraq and are trying to wind down the war in Afghanistan it seems that some want to start another conflict with Iran.

The Republican presidential contenders have declared their belligerency toward Iranian officials who they accuse of moving toward nuclear weapons. The Iranian regime disputes that charge, claiming they are developing the technology for nuclear power and nuclear medicine.

The inspection teams of the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) that monitor compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which Iran belongs, have entered Iran numerous times and, while remaining suspicious, have not been able to find that country on the direct road to the Bomb.

Israel, with some help from the United States, appears to be conducting a covert war of sabotage and assassination inside Iran.

For many Americans the progression toward war with Iran has the feel of cattle being herded from the stockyard into the slaughterhouse, pressed steadily forward with no turning back, until some guy shoots a bolt into your head.

I only hope that level headed people will take the time to negotiate their differences and avoid another debacle like we started in Iraq. It may be great business for the arms dealers and weapon makers, but it sure doesn't make sense for a country who is already deeply in debt.

Sunday, January 01, 2012

President Obama today signed the highly controversial Defense Spending Bill. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with its so-called Homeland Battlefield provisions, allows, according to many legal scholars, the indefinite detention of US citizens by the US military. What is most striking is a lengthy signing statement by Obama, in which he maintains his reservations about the Homeland Battlefield provisions, saying, 'I have signed this bill despite having serious reservations with certain provisions that regulate the detention, interrogation, and prosecution of suspected terrorists.' His defense of civil liberties in the signing statement was passionate. Nonetheless, at the same moment, he signed the bill into law. -- ma/RSN

We may have had some of our civil liberties taken away - the same liberties that we fought the revolution for two centuries ago. Now the military has been given the right to indefinitely detain without charges or court appeal any United States citizen SUSPECTED of terrorism. With a paranoid leader, that could be a major problem! You better watch out who you associate with. If one of your members is suspected of ties to terrorism, than your whole organization can be deemed suspect and labeled as terrorist. It reminds one of Gestopo tactics.